Waterless Car Wash Guide: Fast Cleaning Without Scratches

You want your car to gleam. You want to keep the paint looking as good as it did the day you bought it. But this can be hard if you’re concerned about your water consumption or if you live in a place with very strict water restrictions. You might think that your only option is to wash your car late at night so no one can see, but there’s a better way. Waterless car washes are rapidly overtaking traditional car washes. And best of all, you can do them at home or have them done by a professional.

You might think that waterless car washes require complicated machinery or know-how, but actually you don’t need much more than a single product and a bit of spare time. So, if you want to learn more about these popular car treatments, here’s everything you could want to know and more.

What is a Waterless Car Wash?

A waterless car wash is a relatively recent advance in the field of car care. It uses advanced products that remove dirt and dust from your car with little or no water needed. This allows you or your car detailer to get your car sparkling clean in a small space and without washing harsh chemicals into the drains. It also means that you can clean your car quickly and effectively at home without the chore taking up your whole afternoon.

The waterless products used for this kind of car wash are incredibly advanced and are getting better all the time. In the past, waterless car washes often left scratches in the paint and most people avoided them for this reason. But today’s waterless car wash products lubricate the surfaces of the car so that dirt and other substances slip away without doing any damage. This makes them environmentally friendly and far more effective than the old way of washing your car.

How Does it Work?

There are two general types of waterless car wash products, namely the ready to use formulas and concentrates. But they’re both used the same way. You just spray the product on, leave it to sit, and then wipe it off with a microfiber towel. This process might sound really simple, but it will remove grime and dirt from your car and leave it dry, shiny and clean.

The products used for a water less car spray contain chemicals that encapsulate dirt and dust particles. This is more effective than using water to remove them and it helps you avoid problems like water spots and other water related damage.

One problem with waterless car wash products is the fact that they shouldn’t be used directly on caked mud or heavy dirt. If your car is really dirty, you need to rinse it thoroughly beforehand. Otherwise, when you try to rub off the product, you’ll scratch the paint.

The Benefits of a Waterless Car Wash

Waterless car washes are popular for a reason. There are a lot of benefits to cleaning your car this way whether it’s at home or whether you take your vehicle to a car detailer. Here are some of the most important advantages:

It’s environmentally friendly and uses between 20 and 50 gallons of water less per vehicle.

A waterless wash is much faster and easier because you don’t have to wash your car. All you do is spray on the product, let it sit, clean it off, and buff the car.

It removes dirt, dust, insects, tree sap and road tar in one easy process.

It prevents chemicals from washing into the drain to pollute the water supply.

The best waterless car wash products provide a lasting shine and protection for every surface on your car.

When you look at all these benefits, you probably understand why waterless car washes are so popular at the moment. If you want to try this new trend, you can do it yourself or you can take it to a professional car detailer for a really high quality clean.

Waterless Car Wash Products

There are now a lot of great waterless car wash products on the market if you want to clean your car yourself. Here are some rules when it comes to choosing the right products:

Make sure the product doesn’t contain silicone as this can leave silicone particles embedded into the car paint and cause problems later with paint touch-ups.

Silicone can also damage the paint shine and will trap contaminants as well.

Always use a good quality microfiber towel to avoid scratching the surfaces of your car.

No matter what product you use, only apply to light dirt. If your car is really dirty, rinse or wash the car first to avoid scratches.

If you follow these simple rules, then you can use your waterless car wash products safely and effectively to keep your car looking like new. Here are some of the best wash products available now:

Meguiar’s G3626 Ultimate Waterless Wash and Wax

This product guarantees a water spot free finish and is made from a clever formula that will give you a high gloss finish without damaging your paint.

TriNova Waterless Wash & Shine

This is a slightly cheaper product that still gives a great shine. It also provides the best protection available for your car and will prevent dirt and UV rays from damaging the paint.

Chemical Guys EcoSmart-RU Waterless Car Wash

This is a wash, wax and protectant all in one. It’s one of the easiest products to use because it comes in a spray bottle, so as soon as it arrives you can get to work!

Adam’s Waterless Car Wash

This product is easy to use and has a tropical fragrance that’s a nice change from the chemical smells of other options. It’s also highly effective and will leave behind a high shine, protective finish that will leave your car looking amazing!

The microfiber towels that you use for your waterless car wash are almost more important than the wash product! So, here’s a guide to towels that will do the job properly and without damaging your paint:

Meguiar’s X2020 Supreme Shine Microfiber Towels.

Chemical Guys MIC_507_06 Professional Grade.

Shine & Buff Waterless Wash Towel, 3 Pack.

Zwipes 735 Microfiber Towel Cleaning Cloths.

A Step by Step Guide to Doing a Waterless Car Wash by Yourself

If you’re ready to try a waterless car wash, then you can have it done by a professional for the best results or do it yourself at home. If you want to try this on your own, then here’s how:

Equipment:

Your waterless car wash product.
Premium quality microfiber towels with a minimum weight of 300 GSM or grams per square millimeter.

Method:

If your car is really dirt or mud cacked then rinse it first until most of the dirt is gone.
Mentally divide the car into different section so you can work on one at a time.
Fold the towels twice to create 8 useable sides.
Spray the product onto the selected section.
Leave for 1-2 minutes.
Wipe in one direction using straight lines, no circular motions.
Buff using a second, dry and clean towel.
When the towel becomes dirty, make sure you swap to one of the clean sides.
Repeat until all surfaces of the car are clean.

You can do a waterless car wash easily on your own, but it still won’t come close to the job a professional detailer will do. Professional car detailers have all the best products and the knowledge to get every surface of your car looking its absolute best. So if you want a really good job, then find a car detailer who specializes in waterless car washes today.

The Takeaway

With all the concern about being environmentally friendly, waterless car washes are probably the way of the future. The technologies used for this type of car detailing are rapidly upgrading and soon, car washes with water will probably be really hard to find!

Have you ever taken your car to a waterless carwash? What did you think? Share your opinions and complaints about the experience with us in the comments below.